Aunt Tabitha - The Young Girl's Poem

Whatever I do, and whatever I say,     Aunt Tabitha tells me that is n't the way;     When she was a girl (forty summers ago)     Aunt Tabitha tells me they never did so.     Dear aunt! If I only would take her advice!     But I like my own way, and I find it so nice     And besides, I forget half the things I am told;     But they all will come back to me - when I am old.     If a youth passes by, it may happen, no doubt,     He may chance to look in as I chance to look out;     She would never endure an impertinent stare, -     It is horrid, she says, and I must n't sit there.     A walk in the moonlight has pleasures, I own,     But it is n't quite safe to be walking alone;     So I take a lad's arm, - just for safety, you know, -     But Aunt Tabitha tells me they did n't do so.     How wicked we are, and how good they were then!     They kept at arm's length those detestable men;     What an era of virtue she lived in! - But stay -     Were the men all such rogues in Aunt Tabitha's day?     If the men were so wicked, I 'll ask my papa     How he dared to propose to my darling mamma;     Was he like the rest of them? Goodness! Who knows?     And what shall I say, if a wretch should propose?     I am thinking if Aunt knew so little of sin,     What a wonder Aunt Tabitha's aunt must have been!     And her grand-aunt - it scares me - how shockingly sad     That we girls of to-day are so frightfully bad!     A martyr will save us, and nothing else can;     Let me perish - to rescue some wretched young man!     Though when to the altar a victim I go,     Aunt Tabitha 'll tell me she never did so.